@article{fdi:010072328,
  title = {{L}inking crop structure, throughfall, soil surface conditions, runoff and soil detachment : 10 land uses analyzed in {N}orthern {L}aos},
  author = {{L}acombe, {G}. and {V}alentin, {C}hristian and {S}ounyafong, {P}. and {D}e {R}ouw, {A}nneke and {S}oulileuth, {B}. and {S}ilvera, {N}orbert and {P}ierret, {A}lain and {S}engtaheuanghoung, {O}. and {R}ibolzi, {O}livier},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}n {M}ontane {S}outheast {A}sia, deforestation and unsuitable combinations of crops and agricultural practices degrade soils at an unprecedented rate. {T}ypically, smallholder farmers gain income from "available" land by replacing fallow or secondary forest by perennial crops. {W}e aimed to understand how these practices increase or reduce soil erosion. {T}en land uses were monitored in {N}orthern {L}aos during the 2015 monsoon, using local farmers' fields. {E}xperiments included plots of the conventional system(food crops and fallow), and land uses corresponding to new market opportunities (e.g. commercial tree plantations). {L}and uses were characterized by measuring plant cover and plant mean height per vegetation layer. {R}ecorded meteorological variables included rainfall intensity, throughfall amount, throughfall kinetic energy ({TKE}), and raindrop size. {R}unoff coefficient, soil loss, and the percentage areas of soil surface types (free aggregates and gravel; crusts; macro-faunal, vegetal and pedestal features; plant litter) were derived from observations and measurements in 1-m(2) micro-plots. {R}elationships between these variables were explored with multiple regression analyses. {O}ur results indicate that {TKE} induces soil crusting and soil loss. {B}y reducing rainfall infiltration, crusted area enhances runoff, which removes and transports soil particles detached by splash over non-crusted areas. {TKE} is lower under land uses reducing the velocity of raindrops and/or preventing an increase in their size. {O}ptimal vegetation structures combine minimum height of the lowest layer (to reduce drop velocity at ground level) and maximum coverage (to intercept the largest amount of rainfall), as exemplified by broom grass ({T}hysanolaena latifolia). {I}n contrast, high canopies with large leaves will increase {TKE} by enlarging raindrops, as exemplified by teak trees ({T}ectona grandis), unless a protective understorey exists under the trees. {P}olicies that ban the burning of multi-layered vegetation structure under tree plantations should be enforced. {S}hade-tolerant shrubs and grasses with potential economic return could be promoted as understorey.},
  keywords = {{M}icro-plot experiment ; {M}ultiple linear regression ; {S}oil crust ; {S}oil loss ; {M}ontane {S}outheast {A}sia ; {T}hroughfall kinetic energy ; {LAOS}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{S}cience of the {T}otal {E}nvironment},
  volume = {616},
  numero = {},
  pages = {1330--1338},
  ISSN = {0048-9697},
  year = {2018},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.185},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010072328},
}